Lauren Wasser Model who lost her leg due to toxic shock syndrome Country: USA

1. The Model Who Lost Her Leg Due to Toxic Shock Syndrome
2. A Life-Changing Diagnosis
3. The Battle for Justice
4. A Fight for Recovery

The Model Who Lost Her Leg Due to Toxic Shock Syndrome

At the age of 24, Lauren Wasser's world was opening up to her. The model with blonde hair, blue eyes, and pleasant facial features was being hailed as the "androgynous answer" to Dutch supermodel Lara Stone. Wasser had posed for Italian Vogue, played basketball in her free time, and cycled 30 miles every day. "Everything revolved around my appearance," says Lauren, but that all changed in October 2012.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

Wasser started experiencing flu-like symptoms and knew her period was approaching. She rushed to the nearest store and bought Kotex Natural Balance tampons, following the instructions her mother had given her since she was 13 years old. However, at a friend's party, Lauren struggled to stay on her feet. "Friend, you look terrible," the guests remarked. They took Wasser back to her home in Santa Monica, where she fell into a deep sleep. The next thing Lauren remembers is waking up to her cocker spaniel jumping on her chest and police banging on her door. Her worried mother had called the police after being unable to reach her for a long period of time. Confused and disoriented, Lauren had no idea how long she had been in bed or what time it was. The police assessed the situation, called her mother, and left. The next day, her mother sent a friend with a police officer to check on Lauren. This time, they found her lying face down on the bedroom floor. Her body temperature was nearly 42°C, and she was rushed to the hospital. Doctors gave her less than 10 minutes to live as her internal organs began to fail. An intense heart attack followed, and it took the doctors a long time to stabilize her condition. It was only when an infectious disease specialist joined the team that they asked, "Is there a tampon inside her?" The removed "item" was sent to the laboratory, and that's when they identified Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).

The Battle for Justice

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) was named in 1978 and is characterized as a complication of bacterial infections, often involving staphylococcus bacteria. While the syndrome affects both men and women, tampon usage has been linked to TSS for decades. The spike in TSS-related deaths occurred in the 1980s, particularly with the introduction of Proctor & Gamble's highly absorbent tampon, "Rely." Lauren Wasser's case is not an isolated incident. Synthetic fibers, along with the tampon's absorbent capacity, can create an ideal environment for staphylococcus bacteria to thrive. Wasser's mother initiated a mass lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the manufacturer and distributor of Kotex Natural Balance tampons, as well as the stores Kroger and Ralph that sold the product. The main goal was to raise awareness about the dangers of tampon usage and the use of synthetic materials in hygiene products. The legal battle is ongoing.

A Fight for Recovery

Recalling the difficult period after her amputation, Wasser says, "When I returned home, I wanted to put my hands on myself. I was an attractive girl, and suddenly I was without a leg, in a wheelchair..." She had to deal with phantom limb pain and often fell to the floor due to her disoriented state. During this time, she tried to find reasons to keep going, often thinking about her younger brother, who was 14 at the time. It took Wasser a long time to come to terms with her new reality. Her friend, photographer Jennifer Rovero, played a significant role in her recovery, taking hundreds of photos of Lauren throughout the process. When the shoots took place in public, the friends made sure to ask young girls if they were aware of Toxic Shock Syndrome. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one to two out of every 100,000 women aged 15 to 44 encounter TSS each year.